“The reason for this is another band of low pressure from the Atlantic making for very wet and windy weather.”

Netweather forecaster Paul Michaelwaite said: “Staying generally unsettled for the rest of the week, with further wind and rain moving in across the north and west on Thursday, then spreading southeast across other areas on Friday before clearing in the evening to drier conditions from the west.”

The Environment Agency last night issued 24 flood alerts and four more serious flood warnings covering most of the South-west, central and eastern regions.

It warned people in Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire to be extra vigilant.

There are also warnings for the public to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through floodwater.

A spokesman said: “Successive bands of heavy and slow moving rain could lead to flooding in the coming days across parts of central, southern and south west England and south east Wales.

“Heavy rain falling on already saturated ground could lead to river and groundwater flooding, and strong winds could worsen surface water flooding, as wind-blown leaves and debris block water drainage.

“Environment Agency teams have been mobilised across the country to check on flood defences, clear any river blockages and closely monitor river levels. These teams work around the clock to reduce the risk of flooding, and will be out in force over the coming days.”

The study, by the German scientists in the Institute of Physics’ journal Environmental Research Letters, also found the pattern of rainfall around the UK is set to shift.

It claims heavy rain which usually arrives late summer in south-eastern regions will gradually move to autumn, while north-western regions will see rainfall in November rather than December.

Lead author of the study Anne Schindler said: “We looked at precipitation rates and the results show a shift from season to season.

“This brings the higher risk of flooding because heavy rain will coincide with when rivers are at full capacity and ground moisture is at a peak.

“It follows that there could be more extreme patterns of rainfall and these could be caused by other factors, although this needs further investigation.”

Britain’s extreme weather this year is set to continue with some experts predicting the coldest winter for 100 years.

James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said much of Britain can also expected the snowiest winter for a century.